The classic ballet, Swan Lake , performed to Tchaikovsky's music, gets two makeovers at this year's Arts Alive festival.

Provocative choreographer and dancer Dada Masilo has Africanised the ballet, adding humour, a lobola payment and a few hidden lessons. Traditionally, Swan Lake tells the tale of Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with Odette, a woman transformed into a swan, Odile, by an evil curse.

Masilo, known for her interesting take on classics including Carmen, has just returned from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown where her version of Swan Lake got rave reviews.

Without revealing too much about her ballet, Masilo said: "We are doing a new interpretation of the classic using contemporary dance techniques and incorporating traditional African dance.

"There is also an underlying element to look out for. It deals with a social issue which is provocative but also fun. People will enjoy it."

She says her starting point in the narrative is to focus on Odette and Odile rather than the prince.

In a previous production of Masilo's Swan Lake, the music of Tchaikovsky was supplemented with that of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, William D'Avenant, Saint-Saens and Arvo Part.

And Odile was a man - in a tutu.

In another version of the ballet, choreographer Vijayalakshmi introduces Mohiniyattam, "the classical dance of Kerala [a South Indian style], danced to the music of Swan Lake".

The month-long festival draws large audiences to music events, but dance audiences have fluctuated depending on the performances.

"Audiences can be surprising and all people won't love all forms of dance. But we have got to educate people on what we can do with dance and this is a good platform for it," Masilo said.

Masilo, who first participated in Arts Alive in 1996, adds that the festival will provide a feast of local artists, with nearly a month of art, dance, theatre, film and music to look forward to.